How exact should the trans fluid level be?

On Sat, 23 Jun 2012 11:51:19 -0700 (PDT), Michael


I wouldn't stress about it, but I'd stop at the store and get some
fluid at the start of my next trip.  If that will be after the stores
have closed, I'd make a special trip.   I always carry a quart of oil
and a quart of xmission fluid in my trunk, ever since 1967 when my oil
gauge was dipping to zero occaionsally in the middle of the night in
the middle of Canada, between Detroit and London, Ontario, when I had
to choose between stopping and waiting until there was traffic in the
morning or plugging on 50 or 100 miles to a gas station.   I, and my
two passengers, did stop for a few minutes.  Not an electric light in
sight, the sky was the clearest I've ever seen, with thousands of
stars. I didn't want to wait four hours so I drove on and I think the
engine was fine.  Had the '50 Olds with V-8 300cid for 2 more years.

They sell motor oil and transmission fluid at most supermarkets, btw,
and maybe drugstores too, though I haven't checked any drugstores.   I
don't think they have xmission fluid for Chryslers, but they do have
Dexron.

If the car shifts into gear and stays there, the major (only?) reason
for needing more fluid to the proper level is aiui to keep the
transmission at the proper temperature, cool enough.  Driving a mile
isn't going to overheat the transmission, but I'd put in the right
amount befroe I went anywhere else.

Ok, thanks for the comments everyone.  I got some more, and put in
about 1/2 of a pint, then I think the dipstick said that was a little
bit too much... go figure.  But the car operates fine.

Today I changed the diff oil, thinking that was the cause of my
mystery oil leak.  That wasn't it... I think it's the trans pan
gasket.  That's gonna be especially fun, since the previous owner/
mechanic used some form-in-place gasket material over there...

Michael

On Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:38:32 -0700 (PDT), Michael


I meant to say that transmission fluid is colored, red or something,
and engine oil is just black.    Also xmission fluid isn't as slick as
engine oil.

Yeah it's red when new, but I couldn't quite place this liquid.  It
doesn't really have any smell to it.  Engine oil has this nice-ish
smell, trans oil has this nasty-ish smell, well at least new trans oil
does...

When I went down there, yeah, the trans gasket looks like it's seeping
the stuff, but when I looked up, I saw more oil, so maybe I have two
leaks?  Sigh... such is life.  Ah, well I shouldn't complain.  At
least I have a car.  Some folks aren't so fortunate.

On Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:11:56 -0700 (PDT), Michael


Goiod point.  You have a car AND a project.  That's better than just a
car.

Michael wrote:

I had a Chrysler Torqueflite transmission that would slip if it was
even a pint below minimum.  I learned this because the thing had a
faulty dipstick.

Likely wasn't the only thing faulty.

uncle_vito wrote:

Like what?  The car went another 50,000 miles without problems, and
then I sold it.

Anything measured with a dipstick is not an exact science. The level of the
fluid being measured only needs to be more than minimum and less than
maximum. It the case of motor oil, the stick measures the difference by 1
full quart (or liter, depending on the market). When the stick shows the
level at or below the minimum, then a single full quart/liter should be
added and then check again. If the level is anywhere between the two marks,
then stop adding.

I forget the measurement of the transmission dipstick, but it should be
given someplace. When I was a kid, it was also measuring full quarts for all
cars but Ford. Fords took a different type of fluid that was sold in
half-quarts, and the dipstick measured for the package that the fluid came
in.